UAE Humanitarian Leadership Expands Relief Reach In 2025

The United Arab Emirates strengthens its humanitarian profile in 2025, ranking third among global aid donors. According to OCHA's Financial Tracking Service, the UAE contributes US$1.46 billion, while also making large multi-year pledges and expanding relief operations across conflict zones, fragile states and disaster-hit communities on several continents.

The UAE commits US$550 million in 2025 to support the UN's Global Humanitarian Overview. The appeal seeks US$33 billion in 2026, with plans to assist about 135 million people. This pledge underlines the UAE's intention to remain a key partner in large-scale international response planning.

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Gaza receives extensive assistance, with UAE support exceeding AED9.4 billion by December 2025. More than 100,000 tonnes of supplies and two million gallons of water are delivered. Around 3,000 patients, with accompanying relatives, are evacuated for medical treatment in the UAE during the same period.

The UAE field hospital in Gaza treats roughly 54,000 medical cases by December 2025. A floating hospital in Al Arish handles more than 21,000 additional cases. These facilities strengthen health services during conflict and complement the large-scale delivery of food, water and essential items into the enclave.

Support for Sudan totals US$784 million from 2023 onwards, reflecting the scale of needs there. Between 2015 and 2025, cumulative UAE assistance to Sudan reaches US$4.24 billion. Funding spans food aid, health, shelter and economic support, as the country manages prolonged instability and overlapping humanitarian pressures.

In Yemen, the UAE allocates US$1 billion to the energy sector, including new renewable power plants. Projects in Aden and Shabwa are designed to supply electricity to more than one million homes. Alongside infrastructure, assistance covers Ramadan meals, flood support for 960 families, food aid and education programmes.

UAE humanitarian aid in Europe, Asia and Africa initiatives

Regarding Ukraine, the UAE reports that its mediation efforts help arrange the exchange of 4,641 prisoners. The UAE aid agency also signs a US$4.5 million agreement to enhance orphanage care centres. This combines diplomatic engagement with targeted social support for vulnerable children affected by the conflict.

Emergency UAE humanitarian aid also addresses climate and disaster events. Somalia receives 700 tonnes of food supplies, while Chad receives more than 1,000 tonnes to support 150,000 flood victims. Winter campaigns in Albania and Bangladesh provide seasonal relief, including warm clothing and basic items for low-income communities.

Specialised UAE relief teams help operations in Myanmar, the Philippines, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The UAE also pledges US$10 million for countries across Asia and the Pacific to respond to natural disasters. In Socotra, a WHO-backed initiative seeks to reduce malnutrition rates through targeted health and nutrition programmes.

Beyond emergency delivery, UAE humanitarian aid supports health infrastructure in Africa and East Jerusalem. An agreement in Uganda funds a fully integrated eye hospital worth US$20 million. A separate US$64.5 million grant supports Al-Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, while another agreement covers Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Hospital and a dialysis centre in N’Djamena, Chad.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives pledges AED36.7 million to UNHCR programmes for displaced communities. The UAE's Digital School, with the ATAYA Initiative, launches "Skills Academies" to train five million young Africans in labour market skills. Domestic campaigns include the "Father’s Endowment" and an UAE Food Bank partnership with the "Ne’ma" programme to provide one million meals from surplus food, alongside the AED4.7 billion Mohammed bin Rashid Endowment District, presented as the region’s first integrated endowment community.

With inputs from WAM